NK cell research
NK cell research project has been initiated to support the establishment of a novel immune cell therapy for Finnish cancer patients.
Our rationale in the NK cell research project is to combine the existing expertise in HLA and KIR (killer cell immunoglobulin like receptor) genetics, crucial for NK cell function, with the know-how in cell biology and therapy.
Interestingly, HSCT from donors having certain activating KIR genes (i.e. so called high KIR B-score) has been associated with a better patient outcome in AML (Cooley et al, Blood. 2010;116), which was replicated in a Finnish cohort by our group (Impola et al, Front Immunol. 2014;5). However, this phenomenon has not been extensively studied in vitro.
Our aim is to study how the genetic background of the donor, especially their KIR genotype, affects the NK cell subtypes and functional properties. Ultimately, we aim at understanding if KIR genetics should be taken into more careful consideration in donor selection, potentially improving the outcome of NK cell therapy or cell therapy in general.